In Search of Diamond....

Dr Gurney's current focus is to better understand the processes by which natural diamonds form and to apply this knowledge to exploration for undiscovered primary diamond deposits. This is done by negotiating access to key research samples and designing projects for a team of researchers. This new information is interpreted and added to a comprehensive database that contains relevant information dating back to the 1960's.

At present the KRG consists of four researchers who are staff members, two post-doctoral appointments and ten post-graduate thesis students, three of whom are part-time. The group is cosmopolitan, drawing people from four continents and seven countries. Research projects are funded by means of annual grants from the National Research Foundation, the Department of Trade and Industry and from industry.

Courtesy:Diamond World Ltd.

A model at Christie's auction house in Dubai

A model presents a Jahan diamond and emerald jewellery set at Christie's auction house in Dubai

DIAMONDS IN BANGLADESH – AN UNLIKELY INDUSTRY

A mention of Bangladesh is more likely to conjure up images of flood and famine than a rapidly developing economy, but the small southeast Asian nation – which boasts a population of over 170 million, 80% of whom are under 35 – is progressing rapidly as both a producer and a consumer. Five years ago, a visionary Bangladeshi decided the time was ripe to bring the diamond manufacturing industry to his country. On the opening day of the Kimberley Process plenary meeting, Mr. Onu Jaigirdar – Bangladesh's sole diamond manufacturer – spoke to the Israel Diamond Institute about falling in love with diamonds, Bangladeshis' growing taste for diamond jewelry, and why he employs women only.

"Diamonds are a pre-emerging industry in Bangladesh, suffering all the birth pains," Jaigirdar, Managing Director of Brilliant Hera, tells the IDI. "It's never been done."

While Bangladesh has a long tradition of jewelry-making, Jaigirdar explains, traditional taste has always preferred "very yellow" gold – 23 or 24 karat, unembellished with gemstones. Now, he says, thanks to a rapidly developing economy, many Bangladeshis have disposable income and an appetite for diamonds fueled by Western influence.

Jaigirdar, who left Bangladesh as an adolescent and until a few years ago worked in finance, discovered diamonds mostly by chance when he happened to meet a Belgian diamond dealer on a flight out of the country. A few weeks later, he found himself in Antwerp and contacted the man, who gave him a tour of one of the world's renowned diamond centers.

"He showed me a huge pile of polished diamonds, and I fell in love," Jaigirdar recalls. Also, the idea of making something – rather than providing financial services – tickled his imagination.

Jaigirdar then proceeded to found the first diamond manufacturing company in Bangladesh. His company, Brilliant Hera Ltd, has been operating for five years and now employs over 125 workers – all of whom are women. When asked why he preferred a policy of "positive discrimination" in a sector that has traditionally been very much a boys' club, he replies simply and to the point: "Women are more trustworthy, more reliable, and easier to do business with."

But who can train workers in a country with no traditional diamond industry? Jaigirdar chose to hire Belgian instructors, and says with pride that his company's cut – and therefore the cut of Bangladesh – is of the highest quality.

"We have proved that our population is capable of cutting diamonds and doing good work," he tells the IDI.

Who supplies the rough diamonds for Jaigirdar's people to polish? For now, he buys rough mainly from the Antwerp bourse, where he has business contacts, but is looking into buying rough diamonds direct from diamond producers.

Nor is Jaigirdar content with launching a brand-new industry in a country with no historical connection to diamonds. He has founded his own jewelry brand, called Jaigirdar. "The linkage seemed perfect," he observes.

Market response to his jewelry has been "keen," he says, with a great deal of repeat business and excellent word-of-mouth advertising. 

China May Replace India As The World’s Largest Diamond Processing Country

March 26, 2011

India is the world’s largest diamond processing countries, but the location that has lasted for many years is likely in the near future become history. Government’s preferential policies, a large number of skilled technical workers, as well as strong domestic demand, China, the world’s second largest diamond processing will likely become a replacement.
In Qingdao Jinghua Diamond a processing plant where more than 400 workers are busy with tensions have continued their clear division of labor, design, cutting, polishing, testing all kinds of size of the flash Jingjing of diamonds. Yan Li Jie one  of skilled workers told the China Daily reporter this year, the workers work overtime every day, the average daily grinding out 2,000 stars finished diamonds, exported to Belgium. Factory limited space has become more busy and noisy workshop early this year, 50 new tactics to make workers more than 2,000 square meters of workshop seemed increasingly crowded.
Here noisy scenes people completely unable to fire it with a word the world’s most linked to – the economic crisis.
Managing Director of Jinghua jewelry Zhu Xin-Wei, told the China Daily, how the economic crisis did not affect the Core Pacific’s business, the company this year, is planning to recruit 200 new workers, assigned to the company’s eight plants across the country, added to the existing three , 1000 workers were contingent.
Jinghua company is a leader in the diamond processing industry. “Despite the economic crisis and defeated a number of small businesses, but most Chinese diamond processing companies are still working well,” said Zhu Wei.
In contrast, the situation in India is an altogether different. It is reported that, due to shrinking global demand, a sharp decline in diamond exports in India since the end of last year more than 2,000 companies went bankrupt, nearly one million skilled workers jobless.
In 2004, China became the world’s second largest diamond processing country, second only to India, and since then, China’s rapid expansion of the diamond processing industry.
Global consulting firm KPMG recently released a report, by 2015, China’s share of the global diamond processing will rise to 21.3%, while India’s share of the decline from the current 57% to 49%.
But the domestic-related professions are more optimistic look at this prospect.
“The Chinese market is in a rapid upward trend, and three years later, China’s diamond processing will exceed India’s,” Y & M Jewelry Huangzhao Yong said the vice president, Marketing, Y & M Jewelry, Inc. is a relatively large size of the diamond processing companies.
Aiffany jewelry company’s general manager of Deng Weiguo agrees to this forecast, he said, “In China, the diamond processing industry is rapidly emerging. Three-year catch-up is not an issue.” Aiffany jewelry company is a medium-sized diamond processing enterprises.
Strong domestic demand in China also increased optimism the diamond processing industry. Gemmological Association of China, told China Daily reporter Wang Fang, China is now the world’s fourth largest diamond consumer, but demand is growing at the fastest pace.
In 2006, China abolished the import of rough diamonds value-added tax, while the taxation of polished diamonds from 17% to 4%, since then, China’s diamond trade has developed rapidly.
Shanghai Diamond Exchange data show that in 2007 China’s refined polished diamond exports surged to 147 million, an increase of 194%, in 2008 is expected to reach 900 million U.S. dollars.
China’s technology has also advanced more than India. “India’s diamond processing has a long history, but the quality is not good in China, but also much smaller scale,” Jinghua Jewelry Co., Ltd. skilled workers Yan Li Jie said. Yan Li-jie has 25 years of industry experience, but also to India several times to visit.
In recent years many overseas importers, taking into account the high level of China’s diamond processing industry, but also have come to China to purchase diamonds without Zaiqu India. Many Indian companies have also set up factories in China.
“What we need expertise not available in India,” Indian diamond company Jayam NV owner of Mihir Shah said that he now owns a diamond processing plant in Shandong.
However, China’s diamond processing industry’s growth path will not be too easy, because China’s labor costs are still higher than India’s more than that “in China’s processing cost of 1 carat diamond is 17 dollars, while in India costs only 10 dollars,” Aiffany company Deng Weiguo said.
In China, a total of more than 80 diamond-processing enterprises, mainly in Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shandong, the number of employees nearly 60000. In India, the diamond processing industry employing nearly more than a million people, distributed in tens of thousands of workshops in the country.

I am a professional blogger on promoting Bangladeshi Brands in world market. You are invited to visit my web page www.munshigi.com 

21% Discount at Diamond World

Diamond World announces 21% discount on the occasion
of 40th Independence day of Bangladesh. The discount offer
on 66 items will remain valid till 6th March-2011.
So, Hurry up!! Collect your desired  diamond today!!

Diamond World going to launch online shopping on 1st April

This is to inform all of our valued clients and well wisher that from 1st April onward you can shop online Diamond at www.diamondworldltd.com.  Our clients will get every details of their products in our website

We try our best to serve you in every way possible. Just log in and place your order from your place. Your product will be delivered within your desired time.

Dilip Kumar Agarwal
Managing Director
Diamond World Ltd.

Shop online at Diamond World

This is to inform all of our valued clients and well wisher that from now on you can shop online Diamond at
www.diamondworldltd.com. We try our best to serve you in every way possible. Just log in and place your order from your place. Your product will be delivered within your desired time.

-Dilip Kumar Agarwal
Managing Director
Diamond World Ltd.

The diamond market in 2010

According to De Beers, which still controls around 40% of the diamond market, the global diamond jewellery market grew 8% in 2010. The US, which accounts for 38% of demand, grew 7%.

India and China saw growth rates of 31% and 25% respectively and are expected to raise their share of global demand from 21% to about 40% by 2015. Bangladesh has also a rising demand for Diamond.
Supply is constrained. No major discoveries have been made for over 20 years, and De Beer's massive stockpiles, which it used to control the markets, were run down in 2005 (though Russia is believed to have substantial stocks).
Prices have firmed in line with demand, with Petra's recent tender prices up 6-8% up on last year. Longer term, prices depend on the health of the global economy and rising Asian demand.

Diamond plays

The big diamond producers are either unlisted (De Beers, Alrosa) or diamonds are a small part of their overall production (Rio Tinto, BHP). There is no shortage of smaller diamond miners on the London market, including Gem (LSE: GEMD), Namakwa (LSE: NAD) and Firestone (LSE: FDI), which all deserve a look.
Petra's attractions are its relative size, growth potential, and concentration in South Africa which is stable and conducive to efficient mining operations.
Downside factors are the operational and funding risks inherent in such ambitious growth, and volatility from the structural foreign exchange exposure (with costs in Rands and income on dollars).
At 174.5p its shares have nearly tripled in six months, and are trading on a forward P/E of 29. But that is based on consensus EPS for the year to June 2011 of 6.0 cents. Despite the recent dilution the forecast looks light against the half year EPS of 6.8 cents, and completion of the Finsch acquisition will transform the numbers.
A planned move to the main market will generate interest, and as a play on the diamond market the shares offer some diversification, so are well worth considering.

Petra Diamonds is seeing sparkling growth

Whether diamonds are forever, or just a girl's best friend, there is no doubting the economic power generated by their allure to the female of the species. Measured by value, some 80-90% of the world's production of diamonds is used for jewellery. Something like $10 billion per year in rough diamonds gets turned into retail sales of jewellery worth six or seven times as much.
Judging by the interim results for Petra Diamonds (LSE: PDL), there is no question of diamonds losing their sparkle. With constrained supply, a rebound in western demand, and a voracious appetite from the emerging middle classes of India, China & Bangladesh, diamond prices have recovered to above 2008's pre-recession levels.
That is good news for the diamond miners in general, and good news in particular for Petra, the largest pure play listed diamond miner.
Following a string of acquisitions, Petra has seven producing mines. Six of these are in South Africa, where it owns between 70% and 74% of each mine (together with various Black Economic Empowerment partners) and the seventh is in Tanzania, where it has a 75% interest alongside the government's 25%.
Production is dominated by the Cullinan mine, which yielded 80% of the half year's output of 582 thousand carats.

Finsch

Last month Petra agreed a $210m acquisition of South Africa's second-largest mine, Finsch, from De Beers. This will more than double Petra's current production of 1.3 million carats per year.
Finsch is an efficient mine which will diversify Petra's operations, and generate synergies from its close proximity to existing mines. It will add 48 million carats of un-mined resources to Petra's existing 261 Million carats, resulting in gross resources, at current diamond prices, of $38 billion.
The acquisition was financed from a placing of shares at 150p, raising $325m, with the balance being used for working capital and capital expenditure (capex). Despite the dilution, the transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to net asset value per share and cash flow per share.
Petra has upgraded its ambitious growth targets and now aims to increase annual production to around 4 million carats by 2013/14, and over 5 million by 2018/19.

Results

The group's profit from mining activities tripled to $24.5m as the strength of diamond prices outstripped a 25% increase in Rand operating costs.
Production was down by 5% due to the cessation of working at the Williamson mine in Tanzania whilst its capacity is expanded. That and expansion at Cullinan were responsible for a $48m capex spend, dwarfing the $10m depreciation charge.
The company envisages spending $320m capex over the next six years, to be financed from operational cashflow. That looks a stretch target to me, and certainly not conducive to paying dividends.

Ghulam Ali night in Bangladesh

King of Ghazal his excelleny Ghulam Ali is coming to Dhaka to heal the "zakhmi zigar" 

by his outstanding ghazals on 10th February. He will perform at Bashundhara Convention Centre.  

Diamond World is the sponsor of the great event.

Indian diamond market to touch Rs1trillion in 5 years

Mumbai: The Indian diamond market is poised to grow at 20% annually to over Rs1trillion in the next five years on the back of improved demand, a top industry player said on Friday. “Demand for diamond jewellery is improving world-wide and people in India are buying more diamonds these days as it is a good mode of investment. The Indian diamond market is likely to grow at 20% to touch Rs. 1trillion in the next five years whereas gold will grow at 8-10% year- on-year,” Vivek Jain, chief executive of leading diamond retail chain Orra, told PTI in Mumbai.
At present, the domestic diamond market is pegged at Rs12,000 crore, Jain said, adding the total jewellery market in the country is worth Rs70,000 crore.
Orra, a part of the $1.8 billion Belgian Group Rosyblue, is poised to grow at 20% year-on-year, Jain said, adding it will be opening five large-format exclusive stores in the next three years at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
“We will open five large format stores (3,000 sq ft) in the next three years at an investment of Rs70 crore. We will be raising funds through the private equity route by August this year. The process has already started and we have shortlisted three investors,” Jain said.
The company, that has 30 stand-alone stores across 20 cities in India, exports diamonds to 15 countries including neighbering Bangladesh, the largest market being the US.
According to Jain, the economic downturn in the US has not affected Orra from a price point of view. The company is expecting a double-digit growth in its exports to the US in the current year.
Jain also said the company’s same-store sales rose by 30%t month on month.